Refers to the spiritual essence of a person, often after death; can also mean a ghost or supernatural being. Common in religious, philosophical, and everyday contexts.
He believes in the existence of spirits.
There's a rumor that a ghost appears in that old mansion.
A ceremony was held to comfort the spirits of the fallen soldiers.
There are rumors that a spirit appears in this old mansion.
Feeling that he was possessed by a spirit, he underwent an exorcism.
The shrine enshrines the spirits of the ancestors.
精霊 refers to a nature spirit or elemental being tied to a place or object, while 霊 more generally denotes any soul or spirit, especially of the deceased.
霊 is a broad term for spirit or soul in general, while 精霊 specifically means the spirit of a deceased person in Buddhist Obon rites.
霊 is a broad term for any spirit or soul, not necessarily of the dead, while 亡霊 specifically denotes the spirit of a deceased person.
ghost; apparition; phantom
spirit; soul; psyche · ghost; spirit; ethereal being
departed spirit; soul of the dead · ghost; apparition
consoling the spirits of the dead; memorial service for the dead
the Holy Spirit; the Holy Ghost
inspiration; creative spark · sixth sense; psychic ability; sensitivity to the supernatural
crown of creation; apex; the best
spirit medium
soul; spirit
The kanji 霊 is composed of 雨 (rain) and 巫 (shaman), originally referring to spiritual or divine phenomena. The reading れい is the Sino-Japanese on'yomi.
sacred ground; holy site
cemetery; memorial park
spirit world; spiritual realm
divine spirit; god · spirit of the dead; soul
spiritual power
revelatory dream; vision
mausoleum; shrine for a spirit
division of a shrine's deity; divided spirit
hearse
mysterious presence; aura of mystery
sacred mountain; holy peak
sacred beast; holy animal
sacred mountain
miraculous medicine; miracle drug; wonder drug
miraculous efficacy; miracle; miraculous virtue
shrine; mausoleum
summoning spirits; spirit evocation · communing with spirits; spiritualism
morgue; mortuary
miraculous god; wonder-working god
spirit of the war dead; soul of a fallen soldier · person of outstanding talent; genius
one's whole soul; all one's heart and soul